Novelty display package



Dec.' 16, 194. .A A. KINGMON 2,266,462

NOVELTY DISPLAY PACKAGE `RULES OF GAME ,4d/6W A. Kingma/2 I Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT fori-ICE 266,462 y novntry DISPLAY .caemos `nenn 1A. Kingmon, cincinnati, Yohio Applicaionluly 33, 1939.,y Serial No. 284,288 4 claims. w(o1. .22e-'8) invention relates to display boxes and packages, and more Vparticula-rlfy to fa novelty display package having a Agame associated therewith.

.An object ofthe invention isfto provide -a novel-V ty package in the 'form of -a miniature replica of a 'playing iield lof a popular game, inctuding a game board of vsaid game 'upon which the game' may be played. Y

A further object oi 'the invention ist@ provide a `combination novelty display package and game board of the character stated in which the playing moves of the game are determined by certain normally concealed characteristics of Athe product housed within said packages.

Still a furthe-r object of the invention Iis to provide a novelty package of the character `stat-ed which maybe easily and inexpensively made.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed vin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. "l is a top plan view Vfof an empty novelty display package embodying the present invention.'`

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view -of the device shown in Fig. l.

Fig. "3 is -a vertical ycross sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. l, showing the display package in a filled, ready for sale, condition.

Fig. 4 is a side plan view of -a detail of the present invention,

In the embodiment of the invention show-n in the drawing, the display package `is made 'up i-n the form .of a miniature replica of a football playing field and stadium, however at the outset it should be clearly understood that the form shown represents 'but one of many possole forms and variations which the :gamepackage vmay assume. The present invention maybe easily adapted to represent any one of many different games and sports, such as golf; tennis, baseball, fishing, polo, hockey, swimming vand 'the like by merely pro# viding a suitable -back-ground and game board, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The package may comprise way of example, a continuous opstanding side wali member I which may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as cardboard, or the like.` A bottom Il may be secured to the .lower portion of side wall l0 by means of suitable ears i 2 which rproject, at spaced intervals, from the outer perimeter of bottom l l and which are yadapted to be inserted through suitable ear receiving slots 13 provided at spaced intervals through side `wall il), as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In some instances vit heavier or thicker stock than that -comlzirising upstandingside wall i0, Afoiw'the purpose of providing -a more substantial loa-a bearing member.

A superstructure Mjis provided 'which is adapted torepresent the inclined seating portion or a football stadium which ciroumscribes fthe playing iield. Such a superstructure may comprise a strip of suitable material, ysucili A'las cardboard, or the like, Ithe opposite ends of which may be oined so as fto provide an e'llipsoidel shaped colla-r the body portion of which is inclined upwardly from its center portion. Such a superstructure maybe secured to upstandingfwall lfllffby means of suitable upstandlng locking lugs `lili which proect upwardly, at spaced intervals, lfrom the upper edge of opstanding side wallvi'. Suitable l-ug receptive .slots I' may be provided at spaced intervals around :the outer or upper Vportion of superstructure M as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Iidesired the opstand-ing locking lugs maybe formed -so yas to resemble 'banners or flags Whereby the upper perimeter of the superstructure Ais given vthe appearance of being outlined with a plurality of iiags sue'has are commonly displayed around the upper `perimeter of regulation stadiums during football games `vand other athletic events.

The inner or lower edge I'l of said superstructure may abut upon and make a line ycontact with the 'upper side of bottom 10, as `shown in Fig. '3. Y

It should be noted that the space defined between adjacent edges of superstructure i4 above bottom --Il defines a Icup or dishv shaped area Which-'1s adapted to house or receive 'suitable articles of merchandise. As shown 'in Fig, 3 the :container -may be filled with a plurality of articles, such as pieces of lcandy or small cakes, or the like.

A protective covering. such vas a suitable sheet 2| of transparent material such as "Cel1ophane,` or the like may be provided as a top member to cover the 'contents of the dish shaped area. -A continuous band 2-0 Ipreferably wider` than the overall height of 'opstanding side wall l0 and upstanding locking lugs I'5 may be adapted to circumscribe said upstanding wall. Said band may snugly engage the outer ledge of .superstructure i4 (Fig. 3). The .lower portion of 'said band vmay be spaced from the lower `portion of opstanding side wall lil by reason of AContact with the outermost edge of ear members t2. Band .20 is adapted to secure sheet 2i in place over the dish shaped l area by reason of being slipped over the router may be desirable to fabricate vbottom Il from a edges# thereof as clearly :shown in Fig. 3.

It should be noted that the package hereinabove described may, if desired, be made by any other suitable method other than the method disclosed, such as on an automatic gluing machine. It should be noted that if desired the game board may be printed on cover sheet 2|, as well as on the under or bottom side of bottom in addition to or in lieu of band and on the upper side of bottom as shown.

The hereinabove described device is primarily intended, among other things, to stimulate the sale of the product contained or packaged therein by creating an increased demand for said product because of the game board which forms a part of said device.

By way of example if the game depicted by the device be football, as shown in Fig. 2, and if the product packaged is candy, the following example illustrates how the package could be mad up.

Each piece of candy would, to al1 outward appearances, be identical in size, shape and color with all of the other pieces of candy. However the interior of each piece of candy would have some means for characterizing that particular piece of candy whereby it wouldbe easily identied and classified as belonging to a particular group. Each of the various groups may be characterized by fillings of the same color or by other suitable characteristics.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the centers of the various pieces of candy fall within one of three color groups of red, green or white as denoted by the numerals 35, 36, and 31 respectively. Since each piece, from al1 outward appearances is the same as every other piece of candy, it is easily seen that the group to which any piece of candy, selected by a player, will belong is unpredictable wherefore an element of chance is introduced into the game.

A game, such as football, may be played, after first removing band 2|] from the package whereby the cover sheet 2| may be removed thereby making the contents of the package available.

The game board 34, may, if desired, be separated from the rest of band 20 by tearing along suitable perforated lines 38 (Fig. 4). The game board is then placed upon a suitable supporting surface and the game is ready to be played. In the set-up shown the green centered piece of candy 35 would advance the green side towards the green goal, whereas a red centered piece of candy 35 would advance the red side toward the red goal. The white centered candies 31 would indicate a change in sides, the end of playing period, or the like, depending upon the rules of the particular game played. As each players turn comes around, his play is determined by the color of the center of the piece of candy which he selects. It should be noted that the contents of the box will be consumed by the players as play progresses, whereby market for the product so packaged is stimulated.

It should be understood that small cakes', which may have suitable group characterizing means disposed interiorly thereof such as coloring material, etc. may be used in lieu of filled candy as shown in Fig. 3. The term edible elements will be used hereinafter to include all products which may be packaged within the above described container and which contain identification means for permitting them. to be suitably classified, in distinct groups.

If desired the game may be played by first emptying out the contents of the box into another container and then using the upper surface of bottom Il as the game board.

It should be understood that a display box or novelty carton embodying the present invention may be adapted to any game or sport such as baseball, golf, hockey, tennis, swimming and fishing or the like by merely providing a suitable background and proper game board. The term stadium as hereinafter used is used in its broadest sense and includes any structure, regardless of particular shape which may be constructed according to the teachings herein. It is lalso meant to include those games, such as fishing, in which a superstructure such as I4 would not be required, in which event the container'would comprise upstanding side walls Il] and a bottom Il. ,r

It should be noted that the chance controlled means associated with each edible element may comprise and be characterized by colored centers which are normally concealed by a coating of chocolate, or other suitable candy coating material. In some `instances it may be preferable to conceal the group characteristics of the individual edible elements by Wrapping the individual pieces in wax paper or the like.

It should also be understood that in lieu of providing distinguishing group characteristics in the edible elements per se, such characteristics may be provided by printing suitable legends on the wrappers in such amanner that the legend is normally concealed until the edible element has been at least partially unwrapped.

It should be observed that in the preferred form of the invention the edible elements correspond to and have some relationship with the playing field shown, for example, in a football game the edible elements may be shaped so as to resemble footballs; in a fishing game edible elements may be in the shape of fish, etc. However the invention is not limited to such interrelationship between the game and edible elements.

A package of the type herein disclosed in which the contents are visible through a transparent covering, such as sheet 2|, is known to the candy trade as a boat package.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a compact, easily fabricated novelty display box which lends itself as a game board for a game which is played with the contents of the box.

What is claimed is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a carton in the form of a replica of a stadium, said carton comprising a bottom, an upstanding outer wall and an inclined superstructure, said bottom being secured to and carried by the lower portion of said upstanding wall, said superstructure including upper and lower edges, said lower edge making line contact with said bottom for defining a playing field on said bottom, the upper edge of said superstructure overhanging the upstanding wall, and a plurality of spaced lock lugs formed integrally with and projecting upwardly from said upstanding wall for engaging the upper edge of said superstructure, each of said lock lugs simulating one of a plurality of banners disposed around the upper perimeter of the stadium.

2. A device of the class described comprising a bottom, an upstanding wall member and an inclined superstructure, said wall member comprising an endless strip of material having opposed parallel side edges, vmeans carried by said bottom for engaging the lower edge of said wall member, said wall member being disposed at substantial right angles to said bottom, said superstructure comprising a right section of a truncated cone having opposed parallel upper and lower edges, means carried by the upper edge of said upstanding wall engaging the upper edge of said superstructure to locate the lower edge of said superstructure upon said bottom with` which it makes line contact, to provide a dish shaped area bounded by said inclined superstructure and bottom, a cover member comprising a sheet of flexible material disposed over said dish shaped area, and a continuous band adapted to circumscribe the outer edge of said bottom and upper edges of said inclined superstructure for securing said cover member over the upper edges of said inclined superstructure.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a novelty display box comprising an upstanding wall member, a bottom, and an inclined collar member, said wall member comprising an endless strip of material including an upper and aV lower edge, and having a plurality of spaced slots disposed in spaced parallelism with said lower edge and a plurality of spaced locking lugs projecting upwardly from said upper edge, a plurality of spaced ears formed integral with and projecting outwardly -from the outer edge of said bottom, said collar member comprising an endless strip of material having an inner and an outer edge, each bottom-ear engaging a slot of the upstanding wall member, each locking lug engaging the outer edge of the collar member for disposing the outer edge of said collar member in 'spaced parallelism with the outer edge of said bottom, the inner edge of said collar member making line contact with said bottom to provide a flat open area on said bottom bounded by said inclined collar.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a novelty display box comprising an upstanding wall member,` a bottom and an inclined collar member, said Wall member comprising an endless strip of material including an upper and a lower edge and'having a plurality of spaced slots disposed in spaced parallelism with said lower edge and a plurality of spaced locking lugs projecting upwardly from said upper edge, a plurality of spaced ears formed integral with and projecting outwardly from the outer edge of said bottom, said collar member comprising an endless strip of material having an inner and an outer edge, a plurality of spaced slits disposed around said collar member in spaced parallelism with said outer edge, each bottom-ear engaging a slot of the upstanding wall member, each locking lug engaging a slit of the collar member for disposing the outer edge of said collar member in spaced parallelism with the outer edge of said bottom, the inner edge of said collar member making line contact with said bottom to provide a at open area on said bottom bounded by said inclined collar.

ADREN A. KINGMON. 

